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1530s: from Arabic hashishiyyin "hashish-eaters," pl. of hashishiyy, from hashish(q.v.). A mythical Ismaili Muslim sect of the time of the Crusades, under leadership of the "Old Man of the Mountains" (translates Arabic shaik-al-jibal , name applied to Hasan ibu-al-Sabbah), with a reputation for murdering opposing leaders after intoxicating themselves by eating hashish. The pl. suffix -in was mistaken in Europe for part of the word Bedouin.

Source: Dictionary.com

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14y ago

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